Follow us on Facebook | AlbertaBeef.ca 1 INDUSTRY Alberta’s #1 Beef Magazine | Vol. 33 No. 1 January 2023 2 YEAR OLD BLACK ANGUS BULL SALE FEBRUARY 9, 2023 FORT MACLEOD AUCTION 80 Rugged Rising Two Year Olds! Ross Annett 50 years recalled

2 AlbertaBeef.ca | January 2023 In 1997, a year before CCIA was formed, a group of producers, consultants and business experts, led by the late Carl Block began to lay the groundwork for an agency that would blaze the trail to traceability. Carl, a well-known Saskatchewan cattle producer, was named board chair of the fledgling Canadian Cattle Identification Agency and he was joined by others with a stake in the game. Built by industry for industry – the legacy of CCIA’s earliest pioneers continues today. To learn more about our proud history and the people who roll up their sleeves for animal health and food safety, visit canadaid.ca. “ “ CANADA’S TRACEABILITY PIONEERS Carl Block

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FARM 403.224.2355 COLTON 403.507.5416 GAVIN 403.556.5246 BRENDYN 250.449.5071 www.belvinangus.com Gavin & Mabel Hamilton • Colton Hamilton Quinn, Brendyn & Ivy Elliot P.O. Box 6134, Innisfail, Alberta, T4G 1S8 EMAIL [email protected] You are invited to a complimentary prime rib dinner before the sale at noon. Belvin Angus Eleventh Annual M A R C H 7, 2 0 2 3 AT T H E FA R M , I N N I S FA I L , A L B E RTA 2022_12_19_belvin_alberta_beef_v1.1.indd 1 2022-12-19 1:35 PM

CONTENTS JANUARY 2023 VOL. 33 NO. 1 14 20 22 Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram @albertabeefmagazine CCA, year in review 2022 CCA was all hands on deck to engage Members of Parliament (MPs), Senators, officials at Health Canada and consumers on the proposed regulatory change that would have seen a warning label for saturated fat placed on ground beef. The campaign “Don’t label my beef” helped in fending off a proposed regulatory change which would have been an unfair hardship for the industry. Alberta’s Ag Minister After a short politically-induced pause, the beef industry welcomed Nate Horner back as the Alberta Minister of Agriculture. He hit the ground running with the government’s announcement of an increase to the Feeder Association’s Loan Guarantee Program from $100 m to $150 m. The program was completely allocated so changes were needed or individual feeder associations would have to quit lending. Ross Annett, 50 years recalled For Ross Annettt it all began in the fall of 1971 with Fort MacLeod Auction as a skinny alley rat pushing cattle in and out of the ring at the age of 19. In the spring of 1972 Bob Dyck, Brant Hurlburt and Ross went to the Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, Montana. It can be said that the rest is history. 6 AlbertaBeef.ca | January 2023

Follow us on Facebook | AlbertaBeef.ca 7 BEEF NEWS Publications Mail Agreement No. 40007805 Publisher/Editor: Garth McClintock [email protected] Sales Manager: Lyn Maisonneuve Tucker [email protected] Associate Publisher: Lee Gunderson [email protected] Field Editor: Bonnie Warnyca 306-695-3976 Field Editor: Will Verboven Accounting/Administative Assistant: Patricia Davidson: [email protected] Production: Freehouse8 Media [email protected] Advertising Representatives: Lee Gunderson: [email protected] 587-578-1559 Larry Toner: [email protected] Shannon Langevin: [email protected] 306-229-2789 Kevin Ross: [email protected] 306 260 7048 Barrie Bonter: [email protected] 403-860-4439 Contents of Alberta Beef Magazine are Copyrighted and may be reproduced only when written permission is obtained from the publisher. PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT: All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claim as its own, and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Canada: One Year, $46, Two Year $69, Single Copy, $4, USA: One Year, $75 Int’l: One Year, $120. Send change of address notice promptly, provide old as well as new address, and if possible send address label from recent issue. Allow six weeks for change to take effect. POSTMASTER: Alberta Beef is authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, Canada. Second class postage will be prepaid in Calgary, Alberta. Publications mail agreement no. 40007805 Return undeliverable canadian addresses to: ALBERTA BEEF MAGAZINE PO Box 76060 RPO Millrise Calgary, AB T2Y 2Z9. [email protected] Phone: (403) 250-1090 Alberta Beef (ISSN: 1187-0761) is published 12 times a year by: Creative Motion Publishing Publishers of Alberta Beef, Beef Illustrated, Alberta Beef Industry Conference Guide Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame inductees Four accomplished Canadians were formally inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame ceremony in Toronto as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Two notables to AB and SK are Maurice Delage and Mabel Hamilton. Maurice Delage – Agribusiness leader, hybrid canola visionary. Maurice Delage leaves an indelible mark on Canadian agriculture as the successful leader of Hoechst Canada, growing the company to the largest crop protection company in Canada. An early believer in biotechnology, his determination fostered the development of what is today InVigor herbicide-tolerant hybrid canola that’s grown on 50% of Canada’s canola acres. He now farms with his family, focused on new technology and sustainable farming practices. Maurice Delage lives in Indian Head, SK, and was nominated by Ag-West Bio Inc. and the Global Institute for Food Security. Mabel Hamilton – Ag education champion, respected beef industry leader. A teacher by training, Mabel Hamilton has made lasting contributions to the Canadian beef industry in more than 40 years of standout leadership roles with key organizations. Her lifelong career began with the Alberta Cattle Commission (now Alberta Beef Producers) where she created a classroom agricultural program. She led the Canadian Angus Association, the Beef Information Centre, and was an early champion for traceability in the beef industry. Mabel Hamilton lives in Innisfail, AB and was nominated by the Canadian Angus Association. New tag initiative Responding to a need brought forward by industry and under the direction of the Board of Directors, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) has just launched an initiative that links non-approved Ultra High Frequency Technology (UHF) secondary tags to approved CCIA tags in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) >[email protected] @cleanfarms Recycle it! Recycling for Twine and Grain Bags in Alberta Permanent recycling programs for ag plastic are possible when companies that supply or import these products into a province take responsibility for establishing recycling programs. This is called extended producer (company) responsibility or “EPR.” Learn more about permanent recycling for baler twine and grain bags in Alberta. Cleanfarms operates the Alberta Ag Plastic. Recycle It! pilot program to help Alberta farmers improve sustainability by recycling baler twine and grain bags. To recycle twine, get Cleanfarms recycling bags from collection sites and select County/MD offices and drop off full bags of used twine at a collection site at no charge. Find recycling details and a collection site near you: • For more about Alberta Ag Plastic. Recycle It! – go to AlbertaAgPlastics.ca • To see what other ag materials Cleanfarms recycles, go to Cleanfarms.ca The pilot project is led by the multi-stakeholder Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group; funds were granted by the Government of Alberta and are administered by Alberta Beef Producers. Need a better way to manage used baler twine? Important Information for Alberta Beef Producers SCAN ME 2022_CF_TWINE_AlbertaBeefAD_7x4.625.indd 1 2022-03-10 2:29 PM Ukraine grain exports will not meet expectations Ukraine’s grain exports are down 30.7% for 2022/23, with only 14.3mt shipped out thus far. Exports slumped this year because of the conflict and the closure of Black Sea ports. While there was some recovery in July following the UN-brokered grain corridor deal, Reuters noted that exports will still fall short over last year. Ministry of Agriculture >[email protected] spruceviewangus.com BLACK ANGUS BULLS SELL 60 MARCH 15, 2023 AT THE RANCH Ellingson Rider Pride 7282 SAV Checkmate 8158 Sitz Resilient 10208 Ellingson Rider Pride 7282 KG Justified 3023 PF OKLAHOMA 6625 SAV Landmark 9148 Checkmate Justified Resilient Landmark RiderPride Oklahoma SAV Checkmate 8158 Sitz Resilient 10208 Ellingson Rider Pride 7282 KG Justified 3023 PF OKLAHOMA 6625 SAV Landmark 9148 Checkmate Justified Resilient Landmark RiderPride Oklahoma SAV Checkmate 8158 Sitz Resilient 10208 Ellingson Rider Pride 7282 KG Justified 3023 PF OKLAHOMA 6625 SAV Landmark 9148 Checkmate Justified Resilient Landmark RiderPride SAV Checkmate 8158 Oklahoma Sitz Resilient 10208 Ellingson Rider Pride 7282 KG Justified 3023 PF OKLAHOMA 6625 SAV Landmark 9148 Checkmate Justified Resilient Landmark RiderPride Oklahoma SAV Renovation

14 AlbertaBeef.ca | January 2023 Year in Review 2022 S chellenberg was a tireless advocate for the beef industry serving for many years with the Saskatchewan Stock Growers and finally CCA. Ten days before his passing, he was interviewed by the Alberta Beef Magazine sharing some of the bright spots of the past year and his thoughts about the continuing challenges that faced the Canadian cattle industry going forward. “In 2022 CCA was all hands on deck to engage Members of Parliament (MPs), Senators, officials at Health Canada and consumers on the proposed regulatory change that would have seen a warning label for saturated fat placed on ground beef,” said Schellenberg. “We had to rally the troops in a hurry with only a few weeks to react before the spring recess. Kudos to the CCA staff in Ottawa that co-ordinated a campaign “Don’t label my beef”. We were hugely successful in fending off a proposed regulatory change which would have been an unfair hardship for the industry. The initiative was truly a #teambeef effort and a win for the entire industry.” The continued drought of 2022 hit parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan hard and experts suggest it will take a few years with moisture to bring pastures back. CCA, ABP and the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association (SCA) partnered to put $100 for each cow affected by the drought in producer’s pockets to help maintain their cow numbers. Because of combined federal and provincial lobby efforts, the $200 per head was provided by federal and provincial governments in the drought affected areas. Schellenberg was in one of the major drought areas where community pastures were cut back 33% and ranchers were forced to send cattle to other locations. The Schellenbergs pushed water to five dugouts almost three miles in distance at a cost of $24,000 in an attempt to maintain their herd numbers. That’s Year in Review just one out of many drought stories on the prairies. with CCA “It is with tremendous sorrow that the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) shares the news of the sudden passing of their president, Reg Schellenberg on December 2, 2022. “His gentle demeanor and strong character are qualities that many of us in the industry looked up to,” said Nathan Phinney, who will become CCA’s new president.”

Follow us on Facebook | AlbertaBeef.ca 15 Year in Review 2022 Year in Review 2022 L to R: Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, Anne Wasko, Minister Bibeau, and Reg Schellenberg on their tour of CL Ranches in July. On another positive note, the industry received a 25% increase for funding for research and innovation which is a key ingredient to the success and sustainability of the beef sector. Free and open trade agreements have been the key for success with 50% of Canadian beef exported around the globe. In 2021, the industry hit a new export record high of $4.5 billion in beef exports; the sixth record year in a row. This success came about even though Canada was unable to send their beef exports to China for a full year. • Japan is Canada’s second largest export partner and in 2021, Canada exported close to $438 million CDN to Japan for a 43.3% increase from the previous year. Since the start of CPTPP, and the removal of tariffs, Canadian exports to Japan have increased 70%. • With the implementation of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement in 2015, beef exports to that country have increased 2,781%. In 2020, exports to South Korea were $45 million CDN, in 2021 exports totalled $117 million CDN, and as of September 2022, exports stood at $156 million CDN. • Vietnam is another fast-growing market for Canadian beef going from $8 million CDN in 2019 to $83 million in 2021. This shows the value of having free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to diversify our markets. “Going into the New Year, CCA will continue to engage with parliamentarians and regulators regarding the Transfer of Care document which CFIA has responsibility for. “It’s one more regulatory change in a sea of regulations,” said Schellenberg. “CFIA sprung this on us without enough time to react or comply before thousands of feeder cattle were in transport to destinations all over the country. The TCD requires truckers to document how long the cattle have been off feed and water. We lobbied for a 500 kilometre exemption for shorthaul cattle, specifically feeder cattle in the fall. Even though CFIA enforcement has been reasonable, we will keep on top of this file for

16 AlbertaBeef.ca | January 2023 10th Anniversary Sale Friday, March 17th BLACK ANGUS • RED ANGUS • CHAROLAIS 120 BULLS ON OFFER 30 CHAROLAIS 40 RED ANGUS 50 BLACK ANGUS ScottStockFarm.com JON & CAMILLE SCOTT & FAMILY Jon Cell: 403.333.1790 Camille Cell: 403.369.1791 [email protected] • call, text or email for catalog TURNBULLS DISTINCT 339D RED SVR DISTINCT 151F ELLINGSON PROFOUND 8155 a satisfactory resolution. Livestock Inspection Services are our boots on the ground that is the watchdog for cattle being transported and we have manifests. The eastern provinces don’t have this.” We are also pushing back on adding an environmental component to the Business Risk Management (BRM) program which would increase the complexity of an already complicated program. We don’t support cross-compliance. In order to be eligible for a BRM program they want to tag the environmental sustainability status to be able to qualify for business risk coverage. We are concerned that it will frustrate producers. It is just another addition to an already complicated program and we don’t support it.” Public and Stakeholder Engagement, along with CCA and Canada Beef, organized on-farm visits for five Instagram influencers as part of a campaign “Good for you, great for the environment.” It was a great success with 500k views on YouTube, 190k reach on Instagram and 120k views of the full length videos on YouTube. The videos can be viewed on the @lovecdnbeef YouTube channel. In addition, Public and Stakeholder Engagement have been working with a development company on a game based on Guardians of the Grasslands. It will be aligned with the Alberta curriculum for student’s grades 7-10 and promoted to teachers in the province. Another lobby effort for CCA is to continue to push hard for the Livestock Price Insurance (LPI) to become a national program to include premiums that would be costshared the same as crop insurance. “In June of 2022 you could lock in at a reasonable rate, but it cost $50 a head payable up front,” said Schellenberg. “If you could select your coverage and have the premium cost-shared with the government and not payable until you sell the calves, more producers would participate. The way it is now, it’s a substantial upfront expense towards the end value of the calf. I’m convinced that the lending institutions would breathe a bit easier with a guaranteed floor price.” Year in Review 2022 “Going into the New Year, CCA will continue to engage with parliamentarians and regulators regarding the Transfer of Care document which CFIA has responsibility for. It’s one more regulatory change in a sea of regulations,” Reg Schellenberg.

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18 AlbertaBeef.ca | January 2023 Going into 2023, CCA’s board and staff will monitor developments concerning the rollout of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), focusing on enhancements to the BRM suite of programs and actively participating in the consultation process with industry on the review of the AgriStability program. As this year marks the 90th anniversary of the Canadian Cattle Association there are many success stories over the years to celebrate. And, a series of short vignettes celebrating CCA’s defining moments will be released in the New Year.” “We are part of the climate change solution,” said Schellenberg. “If we don’t tell our story, we know someone else will. We are beginning to see the needle move as our sustainable production practices are now referenced in Government publications including “Faster and Further: Canada’s Methane Strategy”. CCA has already initiated a digital campaign to showcase the great work cattle producers do across the country. We will continue to build on our advocacy efforts for the establishment of a Canadian vaccine bank as part of our preparedness plan for the health of our industry. CCA will also be robust about sharing our story and provide regular updates on the status of our 2030 beef goals with all of our partners including producers, governments and consumers.” ■ BY BONNIE WARNYCA Year in Review 2022 CABEF is a registered charity (#828593731RR0001). For more information on all registered charities in Canada under the Income Tax Act, please visit: Canada Revenue Agency, www.cra-arc.gc.ca/charities. 6301 01.22 CABEF awards seven $2,500 scholarships annually to Canadian students who are entering or currently pursuing an agricultural related program full-time at a Canadian college, university or apprenticeship (trade) institution. IT PAYSto Study Ag Pathways to Agri-Food Scholarships NOW EASIER TO APPLY WITH OUR NEW ONLINE APPLICATION FORM. Apply by: April 30, 2023 Apply at: cabef.org @CABEFoundation @CABEF2023

“ SALE CALENDAR 2023 FEBRUARY Saturday, February 11 JNR Farms Bull & Female Sale Willingdon, AB Monday, February 20 Rendezvous Farms 19th Annual Holiday Monday Simmental Bull & Female Sale Ste. Rose du Lac, MB Friday, February 24 Lone Stone Farms Simmental & Red Angus Bull Sale Westlock, AB Saturday, February 25 Tri K Cattle Bull & Heifer Sale with Albrecht Farms Beaverlodge, AB Monday, February 27 Beechinor Bros. & Guests Bull & Heifer Sale Bentley, AB MARCH Wednesday, March 1 Spring Lake Simmentals, The Zimmers - Bull Sale Daysland, AB Friday, March 3 Labatte Simmentals 43rd Annual Bull & Female Sale Moose Jaw, SK Saturday, March 4 Bridge City Simmental Bull & Female Sale Saskatoon, SK Monday, March 6 Transcon’s Bull Spectrum Sale Innisfail, AB Thursday, March 9 Transcon’s 5th Annual Next Step Bull Sale Thorsby, AB Saturday, March 11 Transcon’s Red Deer County Bull Sale Innisfail, AB Tuesday, March 14 Prairie Partners Bull Sale Killarney, MB Thursday, March 16 Northern Light Simmentals Bull Sale Neepawa, MB Friday, March 17 High Bluff Stock Farms Charolais & Simmental Bull Sale Inglis, MB Sunday, March 19 Transcon’s Premium Beef Simmental Bull Sale Neepawa, MB Thursday, March 23 Janzen Ranches 30th Annual Simmental & Red Angus Bull Sale Rosemary, AB Monday, March 27 Southwest Showcase Simmental Bull Sale Swift Current, SK Wednesday, March 29 Camden Cattle Co. 11th Annual Bull & Female Sale with guest Niwa Ranching New Brigden, AB APRIL Saturday, April 1 Transcon’s Advantage Bull Sale Saskatoon, SK Monday, April 3 Transcon’s Cattle Country Simmental Bull Sale Ashern, MB Monday, April 10 Transcon’s Peace Country Simmental Bull Sale Beaverlodge, AB

20 AlbertaBeef.ca | January 2023 Year in Review 2022 After a short politically-induced pause, the beef industry welcomed Nate Horner back as the Alberta Minister of Agriculture. He hit the ground running with the government’s announcement of an increase to the Feeder Association’s Loan Guarantee Program from $100 m to $150 m. The program was completely allocated so we had to urgently make a change or individual feeder associations would have to quit lending,” said Horner. “The program typically finances 17% to 24% of the calf crop each year, which provides a significant portion of the lending requirement of the industry. Annually there are about 2,000 producers who access the program with a large percentage of the allotment going to feedlot alley. We will continue to look for ways to improve this program especially for young producers. We currently have a few resolutions before us to consider.” The Minister is hoping the new Study on Competitiveness due in January and sponsored by ABP, ACF, CCA and the Alberta government will reveal more transparency in the pricing within the value chain. The spread between the retailer, the packer and the primary producers must be addressed. “The good news talking with our federal counterparts and other provinces, is that it is widely acknowledged that we must tweak the BRM Suite to provide more support for the cowcalf producer. “I think it is very important to get this study and if it doesn’t show any levers it will force us to change how we look at the existing programs. Ontario and Quebec have more supportive programs for primary agriculture that are subsidized by the provincial government as do some of the U.S. states. It’s a conversation that has to be kicked up a notch.” The pressures on small and medium-sized herds are not lost on the Minister. Talking with producers he knows their angst about higher input costs and the major drought concerns. “We were glad to see better prices this year but maybe not what some were expecting,” said Horner. “The futures on feeder cattle show some optimism. The primary role of government is to provide stable risk management policies to avoid the big disaster ad hoc relief programs. The Ag Recovery Program from two summers ago which reached $365 m is something that the feds have made it clear we can’t continue to go to the well.” Horner understands that they need something year-to-year that producers can partner in and that it works. He said the AgriStability Alberta Ag Minister’s yearly roundup The Minister knows the AgriStability program isn’t the tool for many even though they’ve made changes with the increase in the compensation rate and are moving the reference margins. There are discussions about changing eligible expenses to make it more applicable to primary cow-calf production. “Unfortunately, it’s a slow moving process.”

program isn’t the tool for many even though they’ve made some changes with the increase in compensation rate and they are moving the reference margins. Apparently, there is lots of discussion behind the scenes about changing eligible expenses to make it more applicable to primary cow-calf production. But to quote the Minister, “Unfortunately, it’s a slow moving process”. “There are two partners in the dance,” he said, “but Alberta has more cows per capita compared to other provinces, which offers a little leverage to build a program that we can fund and support. I have a hard time understanding that we have a carbon tax in this country that is charged to everyone and disproportionally to rural Canadians, especially those in primary agriculture. The feds keep 10% for administration and then rebate the other 90% to individuals regardless of what they paid into it or if they have alternative practices. We could use some of those revenues to invest in a system that promoted our grasslands for instance.” “It’s not just about carbon sequestration or water filtration or even biodiversity, it’s about getting more dollars into the pockets of primary producers. Producers are asking for a program similar to crop insurance to mitigate and hedge their business against risk. But the feds have told us this is a hill to die on and they weren’t going there. If the Beef Competitive Study doesn’t show any tangible actionable items for us to move forward on, then we need to investigate other avenues. We’ve talked about margin insurance and whole farm production insurance and the work is ongoing. Something has to change.” Horner’s mandate is to increase the animal and food processing ventures. His platform is to work with producers processing everything from pea fractionation to flour mills to meat processing etc. The goal is to add more value to the province’s primary commodities. “We’ve had a sector strategy during our whole term looking for ways to increase the agriculture processing in this province,” said the Minister. “We’ve achieved our fouryear targets in year three investing $1.4 billion to create 2,000 new jobs in the ag sector. Alberta has a wide range of broad competitive advantages to work from such as a low corporate tax rate, no sales tax and better proximity to the ports with two cities of a million people. Even with those advantages we’re missing something compared to other close jurisdictions. Saskatchewan for instance, has an aggressive tax credit as do many of the U.S. states below us. We’re kind of an outlier for not having a tax credit to pursue investment which is probably the next step to fill that gap. “Producers continue to ask if we are looking at smaller processing ventures but the regulatory environment dealing with CFIA and labour shortages are a substantial deterrent. There is some relief with economies of scale, but when I talk with the smaller processors many are not interested in expanding.” There have been a number of new branded beef producers wanting to be able to sell their product outside the province. CFIA has agreed to participate in a project in Lloydminster in the New Year to test the possibilities of inter-provincial sales of meat and other ag products. “We need CFIA to acknowledge the problem and work with us to find a solution,” said Horner. “During COVID when we were allowed to flex use our own provincial inspectors in federal facilities, it answered a lot of questions about what we can do as a province. “We want to pursue the differences in criteria and inspection to make it easier to streamline it across the provinces and increase trade. It shouldn’t be that hard, but we need CFIA to play ball.” ■ BY BONNIE WARNYCA Year in Review 2022 Follow us on Facebook | AlbertaBeef.ca 21

22 AlbertaBeef.ca | January 2023 When we returned I was able to occasionally sell cattle at Fort MacLeod and go to Hurlburt Auction in Lethbridge on Thursday nights to work for and with Ted Newby and Keith Erdman. They ran a small weekly consignment auction and needed an auctioneer. They let me sell for experience and I was happy to get a start in the business. “I stayed in Fort MacLeod until 1973 when I went to work for my Uncle Harold (Cricket) Annett at Fed Rite Beef in Medicine Hat, Roy Haragan was the manager at the feedlot. It was at that lot, while working for Cricket that I would sub for Doug Ellis at The Feeding Company. In 1974 I started selling full time with Bow Slope Shipping Association in Brooks. My time at Fed Rite Beef taught me the other side of the cattle business: feeding, grading, sorting, rations how to feed different breeds and types of cattle. Basically, for a young auctioneer at that time it was vital career experience. I understood the buyers/feeders world and what they were up against when it came to costs, shipping, transport, shrink and performance on the rail. I was learning the cattle industry from the inside out.” In1978 Ross moved to Brooks. In 1979 he bought his irrigated ranch by the tracks at Cassils and settled down for a career selling cattle. Ross had a fresh start in Brooks and now had a ranch to pay for. Fifty years later...and he’s still there. He has seen many major transitions in the industry along his journey. Since 1972 he has spent the past 50 years doing what he has a passion for: selling cattle and goods to people from the land, people whom he now knows by the thousands. Ross, Brant Hurlburt and Bob Dyck were recently awarded 50-year honorary plaques at the last annual meeting of the Alberta Auctioneers Assoc. That is no small feat in today’s era of fast corporate change, high unemployment and innumerable stresses on agriculture. There probably is not a more stressful career than being an auctioneer or auction market owner. Eastern Alberta and its cattle industry have known several historic droughts in the past 100 years. Fall calf runs have been lean. Some fall runs like this one have seen cull cow numbers hit record highs when short feed and high packer prices dictate it’s time to shrink the herd. Ross Annett Recalls His 50 Year Career by Lee Gunderson PROFILE Ross Annett recalls his start in the business, “It all began in the fall of 1971 with Fort MacLeod Auction as a skinny alley rat pushing cattle in and out of the ring at the age of 19. In the spring of 1972 Bob Dyck, Brant Hurlburt and myself went to the Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, Montana. “

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24 AlbertaBeef.ca | January 2023 During the drought years in 2002 when cattle sales, numbers and prices got lean, very lean, Ross continued to sell his trailer line at T-Down Trailers. Those hardy ranchers who read this can still recall the pain of BSE in 2003 and our closed border. It was as if the sky had fallen on chicken little and a lot of us were tested mentally, physically and financially by the extreme events of 2002-2003. Some among us, sold out. But most persevered and held on to the values of their forefathers who settled in this country and they rode out the tough times. Innovation and creative thinking saved many a farm and ranch. Ross was always upbeat, always ready to take calls and make deals and take calculated risks. And his customers had a knack for coming back. They were loyal to people who were honest with them. Ross had his ranch, his role at Bow Slope and his own independent auction company (Annett Auctions) which gave him income from a variety of sales, liquidations and dispersals. With his trailer sales he had a diversified income stream. Ross believed in the future of livestock and agriculture and emanated credibility and leadership at a time when many were losing faith in the industry and our government. Ross always told it as he saw it. Ross was a community leader and continues as such. In my 40 years of knowing him I have never seen him fumble the ball. He has been steadfast in his work ethic. Agree with him or not, he’ll look you in the eye and tell you exactly what he thinks without hesitation. During BSE, when packers were making sky high profits, Ross decided to take the initiative and open a meat business. He saw an opportunity in the midst of the packing crisis. He knew cattle, feeding, how to buy the good ‘uns and how to cut, wrap and age beef. He invested heavily in refrigeration and storage along with a meat cutting facility and for several years he grew his meat business as a supplement to his time selling at Bow Slope and his other two businesses. It became a lucrative venture. I was a regular customer who bought his finest aged vacuum sealed whole tenderloins. Ross adds, “When it came to the beef industry I don’t think I ever learned more in such a short period of time than I did retailing meat. I didn’t know how much I didn’t know.” Ross is a fast study and was gob-smacked even at that by the rules, health regulations, competition and marketing that had to be mastered to keep competitive in the meat business. Ross adds, “I’d never thought I would be able to look back at 50 years on the block. I recall spending 13 years in the eighties selling at Cereal Livestock Auction with Bill and Madge Sturm. I was also selling at Stavely and Hanna Stock Yards. But I left Stavely and focused more on Cereal when my duties at Brooks gave me spare time. Bill Sturm and I were close as brothers.” As Graham Ellis once said, “Time marches on.” Ross has seen massive changes come to feeders, herd makeup: indeed, the whole livestock supply chain. He adds, “Cattle sales still need the auctioneer’s mind to exist. Live cattle, live auctioneers and live bids won’t disappear when it comes time to market

Ross and Cindy Wolfer. Ross and mentor Ken Hurlburt. Ross and longtime friend and mentor Harvey Bourassa. Bill and Madge Sturm, Cereal fall 1990. Ross Annett’s best friends and an historic market operator. livestock. At the recent Gemstone Cattle sale, a combination of live bids from the ring, TEAM and DV Auctions saw the sale four deep in live action. But it takes a live auctioneer to create the momentum.” Ross was pleased with that sales’ success and happy for the producers who worked so hard to achieve the results. Annett Auctions was holding monthly sales and folks from all around would consign items and then come to the sale in person to bid on the various collectibles from cars to old tractors, Ross and crew sold it all. And Annett Auctions expanded in 2012 with the addition of a 9-acre site and a 14,000 sq. ft building. The facility could handle liquidations, estate sales, insolvencies, corporate dispersals and on-site farm/ranch business dispersals. The building had a trailer repair shop and two secure indoor auction rings that could handle machinery, RV’s building products and household goods. Things had been running quite well with the monthly consignment sales until Covid reared its ugly head and the monthly T-Down sale had to contend with health rules and crowd restrictions. Ross adds, “My building was full of consignment goods and I had to get it empty. I had no clue how to do it. My crowd of live bidders disappeared overnight.” To say the least, Covid ruined Ross’ monthly sales, but some sales innovation turned the nightmare into a Blessing. And so with the help of his daughter, Ellie, (a teacher by trade who had some IT experience), Ross launched live.tdown. ca, a once a month online internet auction that would sell anything that was consigned from birds to bulldozers (sorry no livestock). The monthly sale starts at 8 a.m. Monday mornings with a soft close Wednesday at noon. The sale was launched when covid hit in May of 2020. Ross says, “It was like opening Pandora’s Box. The sales just kept getting bigger. We now have no need for a bidder seating area. And we fill and empty this warehouse once a month with collectibles and hard goods of all sorts. People drop in to view items they might bid on or to take purchases home. And it’s a full time job to record and photograph the volume of goods going in and out of the sale every week.” Some sales have consigned items numbering over two thousand lots. The facility also is registered to handle long gun storage and auctions. It took 50 years and some innovation, but Ross found his on-line auction became a success. Out of the economic devastation brought on by Covid, “live.tdown.ca” has grown and in no small part because of the dedication of his crew: Ella; Gail; Stacie; Tamie; Brother Bill; John and Larry. Nor to forget as Ross puts it, “In no small part to my gal Cindy Wolfer.” At the end of our interview Ross remembers those who left a profound influence on his life and mentions his father, Ralph Annett, Uncle Harold Annett, Harvey Bourassa, Hiro Takeda, Bill Sturm and Frank Gattey to name but a few. In parting he adds: “Good judgment comes from Bad judgment, never be afraid to make a mistake, just don’t make the same mistake twice.” Making wise decisions and taking calculated risks distinguishes good risk management from the lesser. While the devil is often in the details of a business decision, sometimes it’s nice to have Fate play a hand or two in your favor. ■

26 AlbertaBeef.ca | January 2023 Supplement tubs designed with real-world situations in mind. Is Feed in a Drum® not available in your area? Look for our other livestock supplement brand! newgensupplements.com | (888) 571-3421 SmartLic® & The Feed in a Drum® are registered trademarks of Animal Feed Supplements, Inc. DBA New Generation Supplements. ©2023. “Tub For That” Print Ad - Alberta Beef - January 2023 Issue - 7”x4.625” (trim) - 4c MRL Whiskey Red 101B Maternal & paternal brothers sell. RF CAPACITY 742E Many sons sell! 110 RED, BLACK, AND FULLBLOOD SIMMENTAL BULLS BULLS WITH … • Pigmentation • Disposition • Maternal Traits • Guaranteed Breeding Bulls • Semen Tested • Wintering Program • Delivery Bulls may be viewed at the farms any time up to sale day. View Catalogue Online www.cattlepics.com For more information or a catalogue, contact: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH 2023- 1PM Exhibition Grounds, Camrose, AB 28th Annual MAXWELL/RANCIER BULL SALE Focusing on Thicker, Deeper, Beefier Bulls MAXWELL SIMMENTALS Viking, AB Glen & Leigh Maxwell (780)385-5552 Kevin & Pru Maxwell (780)385-5625 Breeding Simmentals Since 1972 www.maxwellsimmentals.com RANCIER FARMS Killam, AB Garth & Ang Rancier (780)385-2425 Cell (780)385-5313 [email protected] www.rancierfarms.com

Follow us on Facebook | AlbertaBeef.ca 27 LEE & LAURA BROWN TRISH & TIM HENDERSON OFFICE: 403-742-4226 BOX 217, ERSKINE, AB T0C 1G0 CELL: 403-740-9429 TEXT: 403-740-9423 [email protected] VIEW THE CATALOGUE ONLINE AT BUYAGRO.COM CHRIS POLEY 306-220-5006 BEN WRIGHT 519-374-3335 SHANE MICHELSON 403-363-9973 Quality Black & Red Angus Breeding Stock in Volume Honest & Affordable Cattle Selected for Growth, Calving Ease, Maternal & Milk Traits All top Angus Genetics represented in this Sale Offering • Yearling Black & Red Bulls • Two Year Old Black & Red Bulls • Yearling Purebred Heifers • Yearling & Bred Commercial Heifers Rawes Ranches A LONG-STANDING PROGRAM Volume Bulls . Quality Genetics . Integrity and Customer Confidence Philip & Marie Harty H 780.376.2241 C 780.385.5977 John & Myrna Rawe H 780.376.3598 C 780.679.7725 WWW.RAWESRANCHES.COM 40 ANNUAL th PERFORMANCE TESTED CHAROLAIS BULL SALE Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at the ranch, strome ab 200 two-year-olds

yrs) to eliminate gophers from infested areas in Southern Alberta. No charge to land owner. We use only rimfire .22 & .17. Experience and references upon request. T: 403-332-2418 • E: [email protected] www.thermosink.ca 22L 23FG T-Down TRAILERS EBY • MUSTANG • OASIS • REESE HITCHES ALUMINUM & STEEL HORSE & STOCK • FLAT BEDS • CARGO INDUSTRIAL/RECREATIONAL Ross W. Annett Office: (403)362.5252 Cell: (403) 793.4715 Fax: (403) 362.5254 [email protected] | www.tdown.ca SALES AND LEASING Brooks, Alberta 23FG Accurate Real-Time Marketing 23A 1-866-512-1711 [email protected] We have been working for the cattleman for over 35 years, with REAL panels, feeders, complete livestock handling systems and more. The REAL steel trailer is still one of the most fuel economic units with its easy to pull aerodynamic design. With dealers across the prairie provinces and beyond we have you covered. 888-848-6196 www.realindustries.com Real Industries Ltd Real Products, Real Quality, Real Prices! Call today. 403-250-1090 MADE YOU LOOK! 4 High frequency advertising 4 Consistent exposure 4 Terrific top of mind awareness. Phone: 403-775-7534 www.cowsincontrol.com MANAGE RISK We’ll help you get the best return for your livestock.

Follow us on Facebook | AlbertaBeef.ca 29 EVENTS JANUARY 28 Lazy S Ranch 54th Annual Bull Power Sale at the Ranch, Mayerthorpe, AB FEBRUARY 3 Northway Cattle Co Annual Bull & Female Sale, visit website for more info northwaycattle.ca 4 KT BULL SALE, Moose Jaw,SK 4 Hill 70 Quantock Ranch “Barn Burnin’ Bull Sale” at the Ranch, 17 km north of Lloydminster, AB 6 Lock Farms Premier Hereford & Angus Bull Sale, Northern Livestock Sales, Lloydminster, SK 8 Misty Valley Farms - 47th Annual Production sale of Quality Horned Herefords, 1pm MST, at the Misty Valley Ranch near Maidstone, SK 9 Stauffer Ranches - 80 Rugged Rising 2 Year Olds, Fort Macleod Auction, Fort Macleod, AB 9 Bench Angus, Long Yearling Bull & PUrebred Bred Heifer Production Sale, at the Ranch, Shaunavon, SK 10 Anchor D Simmentals Genetic Edge Bull Sale, at the Ranch, Rimbey, AB 10 Langco/Kueber Angus Bull Sale, Viking Auction Mart, Viking, AB 11 MJT Cattle Company Ltd. - Back to Basics Bull Sale, at the farm, Edgerton, AB 18 Circle G Simmental & P&H Ranching Co. One Stop Shopping Bull Sale, Innisfail Auction Market, Innisfail, AB 18 Moose Creek Red Angus 2-Yr-Old Bull Sale, Kisbey, SK 20 OLE Farms - 18th Annual Graze through the Snow Bull Sale, Athabasca, AB 21 Rawes Ranches Ltd. 40th Annual Performance Tested Charolais Bull Sale, at the ranch, Strome, AB 22-23 2023 Alberta Beef Industry Conference, Banff, AB. 23 Chapman Cattle Co. 2 Year Old Forage-Developed Angus Bull Sale, Stettler, AB 23 Heinz Cattle Co. 4th Annual Bull Sale, S.A.L.E. Fort MacLeod, AB 23 Stout Bros Simmental Bull Rush Simmental Bull Sale, Rimbey Agrim Centre, Rimbey, AB 24 Maxwell/Rancier Bull Sale, 110 Red, Black, and Fullblood Simmental Bulls, Exhibition Grounds, Camrose, AB 25 Lewis Cattle 38th Annual Bull Sale, at the farm, Spruce Grove, AB MARCH 7 Belvin Angus, 11th annual Bull Sale, at the farm, Innisfail, AB 4 Turnbull Charolais & Guests Sale, 100 bulls on offer, at the ranch, Pincher Creek, AB 11 LLB Angus, 37th annual Bull & Female Sale, at the farm, Erskine, AB PRIVATE TREATY Garrett Ranch Ltd., registered & commercial Horned Hereford bulls, Landis, SK Stan Lock 306-753-7884 Jonathan Lock 306-753-7861 Lock Farms Ltd Macklin, SK SALE DATE February 6 2023~1:00pm MST Premier Hereford & Angus Bull Sale NLS - Lloydminster ORDER BUYERS ARE: • Professional • Fully licensed and bonded • Buy and sell with integrity • Extensive knowledge of big cattle strings and buyers’/sellers’ needs ALBERTA PRIME BEEF Andy Houweling: 403-732-5644 Cell 403-308-8700 Brent Dawson - Dispatcher 403-382-0716 Brett Houweling: 403-382-7827 Conrad Withage - 403-892-0728 Cole Withage - 403-894-9260 Wade Withage - 403-634-9281 www.albertaprimebeef.com LLOYDMINSTER LIVESTOCK SALES Lloydminster, SK Jim Pulyk: 780-787-0646 Reg Sales: Thurs 8:30 a.m. Market: 306-82 5-8831 23A 22K The Power of Delayed Castration Manage for Profit LEARN MORE AT CALLICRATEBANDERS.COM

Future Legends Simmental Bull Sale Spruce View Acres Steve & Tracy Kushnerik Camrose County, Alberta 780.679.0713 :: [email protected] Starwest Farms Christel & Adeline Humbke Calmar, Alberta 780.853.3388 :: [email protected] B Bar C Simmentals Brett & Chris Houchin Bowden, Alberta 403.877.7536 :: [email protected] Wednesday, February 15, 2023 :: innisfail, Alberta CBH 3H CBH 34J CBH 013H CKCW 113J CKCW 004H CKCW 010H SVA 869H SVA 820H SVA 860H Purchased By DC FARMING Purchased By SPRING LAKE SIMMENTALS Purchased By BRIAN PFEFFER Purchased By DC FARMING Purchased By CLEARWATER FARMS Purchased By CLEARWATER FARMS Purchased By GRIMM RANCH Purchased By EVAN OKRAINCEE Purchased By CORNER VIEW CATTLE CO FutureLegends_AlbertaBeef2023.indd 1 2022-12-19 8:07 AM

REMITALL FARMS BULL SELECT FEMALE SALE & Monday MAR. 13, 2023 OLDS, AB AT THE FARM RICHARD & KELLY LATIMER RICHARD: 403-507-1122 [email protected] On Offer 80 ANGUS YEARLING BULLS 10 TWO YEAR OLD BULLS 12 ANGUS FALL BORN LONG YEARLINGS 40 ANGUS PUREBRED REPLACEMENT HEIFERS GARY & JACCI LATIMER GARY: 403-507-1123 WWW.REMITALL.CA Please call or email to be on the mailing list REMITALL Connection 82G S A V Territory 7225 SITZ Stellar 726D S A V Bloodline 9578 REMITALL Rainman 2H SITZ Barricade 632F Other Sires Represented Remitall F Renown 312F Remitall F Spitfire 145F PeakDot Colossal 828G SAV Checkmate 8158 SAV Quarterback 7933 Ellingson Three Rivers Conley South Point 8362 Calving Ease with Performance and Growth. Sound Structured with Muscle, Mass and Maternal Merit. Actual Performance and Carcass Data. Semen Tested , Fully Guaranteed. Free Delivery to Western Provinces. Remitall TAA Late Fall22.indd 1 2022-12-13 1:50:58 PM

Fleckvieh Polled Red Purebreds Fall Born Fleckviehs Polled Charolais Polled Fleckvieh Polled Black Purebreds